April 15 might seem a long
way off, but tax time has a way of sneaking up on people. Do not wait until the
last minute to get your financial documents in order. In fact, you can file 2013
tax returns as early as Jan. 31. Consider filing early especially if you think
Uncle Sam owes you money -- you will receive your refund all the quicker and be
able to use it for your financial goals, such as eliminating debt. Regardless
of when you plan to file, it is wise to begin preparing now. Here is a look at seven
ways to organize your tax paperwork to stay within Internal Revenue Service
(IRS) guidelines.

1. Determine what you have earned and what you have paid. You should receive a Form W-2 from your employer by
the end of January. This form provides a summary of how much you earned in 2013,
how much was taxable and the amount of taxes withheld.
Independent contractors receive Form 1099-MISC. Self-employed workers must track
their own revenue and quarterly tax payments. Everyone needs to keep good
records of all business-related expenses.
2. Get your numbers in order. The IRS requires a Social Security number for every family
member who is claimed on your tax forms. If you claim elderly parents as
dependents, you also will need their numbers. Also, be sure to get the tax
identification number of the person or business that provides care to your
children. You will need this to file for the child care credit.

3. Use home ownership to your advantage. The interest you pay on your home mortgage is tax-deductible,
as is any escrow amount used to pay annual real estate taxes. Your mortgage
lender should send you a form with this information. If you purchased a home
and paid "points," or prepaid interest, to lower your rate, those points may be
deductible. For 2013, private mortgage insurance (PMI) premiums may be
deductible, depending on your income.

4. Keep tabs on personal property taxes. Some states or counties charge a personal property
tax on items such as automobiles, recreational vehicles and boats, which then can
be deducted on federal tax returns.

5. Collect your charitable receipts. Donations of less than $250 (in cash or goods) do not
require a formal receipt. However, keep some documentation in case the IRS has
questions later. For cash contributions, keep a receipt or canceled check. For
noncash contributions such as clothing and household goods, maintain a record of the name and location of the charity,
the date you donated items, a description of the donated property and an
estimated fair market value of the donations. Volunteers can deduct 14
cents per mile for transportation costs to get to and from a nonprofit
organization.

6. Review last year's medical expenses. Medical expenses that exceeded 10 percent of your adjusted
gross income in 2013 are tax-deductible. This covers medical expenses for everyone
listed on your tax return. Now is the time to find your receipts for often-overlooked
deductions, such as uninsured medical expenses (orthodontics, eyeglasses and
hearing aids), travel expenses for medical treatments, alcohol or drug abuse
rehabilitation programs, weight loss or smoking cessation programs and laser
vision corrective surgery. Depending on the individual, some long-term care
insurance premiums may be deductible as well.

7.Pick a preparation method. If your taxes are fairly straightforward, you can
save money by completing and filing the forms yourself. Tax software programs
such as TurboTax and TaxAct guide
you through the process. Consider filing your return online to receive your
refund faster. For more complicated tax preparation, you can try a company that
offers tax preparation services, hire a certified public accountant (CPA) who
specializes in taxes, or hire an accredited tax accountant or tax preparer. To
find a tax professional in your area, visit the Accreditation Council for Accountancy and Taxation or
the American Institute of CPAs.

Doing this legwork now can speed
up your tax filing process and alleviate some of the headache and frustration often
associated with tax season. In the future, try to keep all of the
above-mentioned materials stored in one place. It will make the following year's
tax preparation go even more smoothly.

Andrew Housser is a co-founder and CEO of Bills.com, a free one-stop online portal where consumers can educate themselves about personal finance issues and compare financial products and services. He also is co-CEO of Freedom Financial Network, LLC providing comprehensive consumer credit advocacy and debt relief services. Housser holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Stanford University and Bachelor of Arts degree from Dartmouth College.

April 15 might seem a long
way off, but tax time has a way of sneaking up on people. Do not wait until the
last minute to get your financial documents in order. In fact, you can file 2013
tax returns as early as Jan. 31. Consider filing early especially if you think
Uncle Sam owes you money -- you will receive your refund all the quicker and be
able to use it for your financial goals, such as eliminating debt. Regardless
of when you plan to file, it is wise to begin preparing now. Here is a look at seven
ways to organize your tax paperwork to stay within Internal Revenue Service
(IRS) guidelines.

1.Determine what you have earned and what you have paid. You should receive a Form W-2 from your employer by
the end of January. This form provides a summary of how much you earned in 2013,
how much was taxable and the amount of taxes withheld.
Independent contractors receive Form 1099-MISC. Self-employed workers must track
their own revenue and quarterly tax payments. Everyone needs to keep good
records of all business-related expenses.

2.Get your numbers in order. The IRS requires a Social Security number for every family
member who is claimed on your tax forms. If you claim elderly parents as
dependents, you also will need their numbers. Also, be sure to get the tax
identification number of the person or business that provides care to your
children. You will need this to file for the child care credit.

3.Use home ownership to your advantage. The interest you pay on your home mortgage is tax-deductible,
as is any escrow amount used to pay annual real estate taxes. Your mortgage
lender should send you a form with this information. If you purchased a home
and paid "points," or prepaid interest, to lower your rate, those points may be
deductible. For 2013, private mortgage insurance (PMI) premiums may be
deductible, depending on your income.

4.Keep tabs on personal property taxes. Some states or counties charge a personal property
tax on items such as automobiles, recreational vehicles and boats, which then can
be deducted on federal tax returns.

5.Collect your charitable receipts. Donations of less than $250 (in cash or goods) do not
require a formal receipt. However, keep some documentation in case the IRS has
questions later. For cash contributions, keep a receipt or canceled check. For
noncash contributions such as clothing and household goods, maintain a record of the name and location of the charity,
the date you donated items, a description of the donated property and an
estimated fair market value of the donations. Volunteers can deduct 14
cents per mile for transportation costs to get to and from a nonprofit
organization.

6.Review last year's medical expenses. Medical expenses that exceeded 10 percent of your adjusted
gross income in 2013 are tax-deductible. This covers medical expenses for everyone
listed on your tax return. Now is the time to find your receipts for often-overlooked
deductions, such as uninsured medical expenses (orthodontics, eyeglasses and
hearing aids), travel expenses for medical treatments, alcohol or drug abuse
rehabilitation programs, weight loss or smoking cessation programs and laser
vision corrective surgery. Depending on the individual, some long-term care
insurance premiums may be deductible as well.

7.Pick a preparation method. If your taxes are fairly straightforward, you can
save money by completing and filing the forms yourself. Tax software programs
such as TurboTax and TaxActguide
you through the process. Consider filing your return online to receive your
refund faster. For more complicated tax preparation, you can try a company that
offers tax preparation services, hire a certified public accountant (CPA) who
specializes in taxes, or hire an accredited tax accountant or tax preparer. To
find a tax professional in your area, visit the Accreditation Council for Accountancy and Taxationor
the American Institute of CPAs.

Doing this legwork now can speed
up your tax filing process and alleviate some of the headache and frustration often
associated with tax season. In the future, try to keep all of the
above-mentioned materials stored in one place. It will make the following year's
tax preparation go even more smoothly.

The Internal Revenue Service today announced it will not impose a penalty on certain uses of certain adulterated fuels that do not comply with applicable EPA regulations, in response to shortages of Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel fuel caused by Hurricane Irma.

The Internal Revenue Service today announced it will not impose a penalty on certain uses of certain adulterated fuels that do not comply with applicable EPA regulations, in response to shortages of Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel fuel caused by Hurricane Irma.

The Internal Revenue Service today announced that 401(k)s and similar employer-sponsored retirement plans can make loans and hardship distributions to victims of Hurricane Irma and members of their families.

The Internal Revenue Service today announced that 401(k)s and similar employer-sponsored retirement plans can make loans and hardship distributions to victims of Hurricane Irma and members of their families.

The IRS, state tax agencies and the tax industry today reminded tax professionals that if they experience a breach or theft of taxpayer data they should immediately contact the IRS to help protect clients

The IRS, state tax agencies and the tax industry today reminded tax professionals that if they experience a breach or theft of taxpayer data they should immediately contact the IRS to help protect clients

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